Israeli Attacks in Lebanon Leave Over 3,000 Dead Amid Ongoing Conflict

Israeli military actions against Lebanon have resulted in the deaths of more than 3,000 people during the past 13 months of conflict between Hezbollah and Israeli forces, according to the Lebanese Ministry of Public Health.

The ministry reported on Monday that the death toll stands at 3,002, with 13,492 others injured, including 589 women and at least 185 children.

Witnesses and independent reports highlight significant civilian casualties from Israeli airstrikes and artillery shelling, despite Israel’s claims of targeting Hezbollah fighters.

The United Nations children’s agency noted that at least one child has been killed daily in Lebanon over the past month, emphasizing the severe psychological impact of the ongoing violence on surviving children.

The escalating conflict has forcibly displaced an estimated 1.2 million people within Lebanon, which has a population of approximately 5.8 million.

Many have fled cities, towns, and neighborhoods in the capital, Beirut, which has been subjected to frequent bombings and evacuation orders.

In recent weeks, the UNHCR reported that an average of 400 to 600 individuals have crossed from Lebanon into Iraq daily, including Lebanese, Syrians, and Palestinians. Since the increase in hostilities in September, over 28,350 refugees from Lebanon have sought refuge in Iraq, while around 472,000 have entered Syria.

Emergency medical services in Lebanon have faced significant challenges due to violence, with the World Health Organization reporting 201 attacks on medical facilities in the past year, resulting in 151 deaths and further hindering rescue efforts.

In Israel, 72 people have been killed in Hezbollah attacks since October of the previous year, including at least 30 soldiers. The conflict has displaced over 60,000 people in northern Israel.

As the death toll continues to rise and infrastructure in Lebanon is devastated, a resolution to the conflict seems increasingly distant. Lebanon’s caretaker Prime Minister Najib Mikati has accused Israel of obstructing ceasefire negotiations, claiming that Israeli actions reflect a refusal to pursue peaceful solutions and a continued strategy of destruction.

Recent footage verified by AFP has shown large explosions in southern Lebanese border villages, with local officials stating that hundreds of homes have been destroyed. The mayor of Meiss el-Jabal reported that around 70% of the village has been obliterated, labeling the attacks as systematic destruction by the Israeli military.